Using vibrational Cooper minima to determine strong-field molecular-dissociation pathways

ORAL

Abstract

We explore the possibility of using vibrational ``Cooper minima'' (VCM) locations as a method to determine dissociation pathways of molecules in a strong laser field. As a test case, we study the laser-induced dissociation of an O$_2^+$ ion beam by several wavelengths ($\lambda = 800$, 400, and 266 nm) using a coincidence three-dimensional momentum imaging technique. Vibrational structure is observed in the kinetic energy release spectra, revealing a suppression of the dissociation of certain vibrational levels, which is a manifestation of the VCM effect. Previously, it has been shown in H$_2^+$ that first-order time-dependent perturbation theory can be used to predict the locations of the VCM [1]. We explore if the VCM locations predicted by perturbation theory can help uniquely identify dissociation pathways in O$_2^+$ and consider its utility for other systems. \\[4pt] [1] J. McKenna et. al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 103006 (2009).

*Supported by the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy. TS was partially supported by NSF-REU under Grant No. PHY-0851599.

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Authors

  • T. Severt

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS USA 66506
    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA

  • M. Zohrabi

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • G.S.J. Armstrong

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • J. McKenna

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • B. Gaire

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • Nora G. Kling

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • U. Ablikim

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • K.D. Carnes

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • B.D Esry

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA

  • I. Ben-Itzhak

    • J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA